Birthmother Rights Private Independent Adoption Unplanned Pregnancy/Teenage Pregnancy Pregnant? Considering Adoption? Pregnant? Considering adoption? Let us help you make the right plans for YOU! Call 866-321-ADOPT(2367) or we can contact you. We understand that you may have many questions right now about your unplanned pregnancy and are most likely unsure what you want to do. We hope to help you through this difficult and confusing time by answering your questions and explaining how the adoption process works. With our agency you can choose the adoptive family that you feel is right for your child. The decisions about your child's future are yours to make. Another option is that you may decide to parent your child. If that is your choice, can assist you with locating resources to assist you with your parenting plan. Let us provide you with the information about all of your options so that you can make an informed decision. All communication is confidential. Simply fill out your contact information in this link and we will call you. If you decided to create an adoptive plan, we have several families who are committed to become adoptive parents. Our adoptive families are required to go through 36 hours of training, child abuse clearances, FBI and state criminal checks, financial background check and have a minimum of three home visits with a licensed social worker in order to become approved as an adoptive family. We want you to have the best choices for your adoption plans. At Building Blocks we are here to listen to you. You can freely talk about any concerns or fears, and your dreams for your future. We have 10 licensed social workers all over Ohio that will help you understand your options and can guide you to making a confident choice for your future and your baby’s future. By working with you to develop a plan you can gain a greater confidence and peace for your future. Once your relationship with Building Blocks begins, you will be matched with one of our social workers for professional counseling that will help guide you with some of the emotional choices you need to make, including the choices for your child. Our services to you are free and include: Your involvement in choosing the best family and your desired level of openness with that family. A loving staff that is here to support you and will accept your final decision and will not pressure you if you change your mind. Counselors located throughout the State of Ohio Continued counseling and support to you after the adoption Referrals to legal services Many women do not want to consider adoption. We understand that you may not think that adoption is a good option. We want you to know that some of feelings and questions women have are normal and we are here to help you understand them and make decisions. These are some of the common fears we hear. It would be too sad for me to give my child up for adoption. It is normal to feel sad about the decision you will need to make. Making a decision to place your child up for adoption after bonding with and carrying them for nine months will obviously be difficult –but there is also the positive impact your decisions will have on many lives including your own. You can feel empowered knowing that you made a responsible decision for your child. When you consider your options and make the decision of adoption you can look back on it and know you made an educated decision. You can also have confidence that you have chosen a family who can give the care you desire for your child. The choice of adoption can have a positive impact on you too, and it gives you the freedom to pursue your dreams. I feel I need to take responsibility for my own actions. Placing a child for adoption is not avoiding responsibility. Evaluating the choices for your pregnancy and child is very mature and shows responsibility. There are many things to consider when making your decision: your financial situation and future, family support, educational possibilities, stability in relationships, commitments to and from the baby’s father and your long-term chances for successful parenting. You will be able to choose a family that will be able to give your child the ideal upbringing you want. Doing that is showing a tremendous amount of responsibility. How will I know that my baby will be happy? Life does not come with guarantees for anyone. But you can make decisions that offer your child opportunities. You will be able to choose the family that adopts your child. You will be presented with prospective adoptive parent profiles that tell you about who they are and what adopting your child would mean to them. They will have the financial means and social resources to give your child the best life possible. You can meet the family and agree on the adoption terms you want including communication, contact and your ability to stay informed about your child. My family will not support my decision to place my child up for adoption. Family traditions can be important and a strong part of your family. It takes courage to make a decision to go against the expectations of your family. Adoption may be a choice family members have difficulty accepting - but you need to make a choice based on the care of your child, not what your family wants. Children have daily needs that need to be met throughout their development. You’ll need to make a decision about whether or not you can meet those needs based on your current circumstances and the support you have in your life. If you feel that adoption would give these things to your child, then this is what you should choose. You have to make a choice that is best for you and your baby, not what is best for your family. Our social workers can also talk to your family and offer them counseling also. My friends think I should keep the baby. Your friends may feel that keeping the baby is what is best for you. But you need to think about “What is best for my child?” Becoming a mother will change your life dramatically. Your friends will not share in the commitment and financial responsibility it requires to raise and care for your child. Your friends will have different priorities than you. They have their own plans for their future and cannot commit to always live nearby or to help you. Neither will they be willing to give up a date with a boyfriend to babysit so you can go out. While the emotional support of friends is great, their input should not be considered in your decision. They should be supportive of you and the choices you make. Is it to late to make an adoption plan for my child who is already born? It is never to late to make an adoption plan. We have many families that are open to parenting a child who is not necessarily a newborn. Families are open to adopting children of all ages. Call or email us and we will counsel and guide you through the steps of making an adoption plan. Questions and Answers for Birth Mothers/Parents 1. Can the birth parents choose the adoptive parents? Yes. Building Blocks Adoption provides confidential parent profiles created by prospective adoptive parents for the birth parents to review. The birth parents may speak with the family by telephone and/ or meet the family along with an adoption social worker. 2. Do the prospective adoptive parents have to live in Ohio? No. we can assist adoptive families all over the U.S. 3. Do the birth parents have to pay legal fees and expenses? No. All legal fees, some living expenses and medical expenses can be paid for by the adopting parents. 4. Can the birth parents see the baby after the birth of their child? Yes. The birth parents can determine whether or not they want to see the child once the baby is born. Some birth parents choose to spend some time with their child while some may not. Many of these aspects of the adoption are part of your own adoption plan. 5. Can the birth parents receive updates from the adoptive parents after the baby is adopted? Yes. If the adoptive parents and birth parents decide to share information over the years either via in person or sending photos and letters they may do so. Ohio does provide for some limited open adoptions. 6. Are any court appearances required? Yes. The birth parents must appear in court to acknowledge the placement of the child with the family and also to give their consent to the adoption before the Judge assigned to the case.These two are often accomplished at the same time. 7. What if I do not know who is the birth father of my unborn child, can I still proceed with an adoption? Yes, under Ohio law if the birth father is not identified then the Courts will require that a registry known as the Putative Father Registry be checked. If the birth father has not registered within 30 days after the birth of your child then his consent will in most circumstances not be necessary. 8. Does the baby go to a foster home? No. The baby goes directly from the hospital to the adoptive parents' home so long as the Court has authorized a placement. The adoptive family must have a valid home study to accomplish this process. 9. Why do birth parents make adoption plans for their children? Birth parents make this unselfish sacrifice because they love their unborn child and recognize that he or she may have to be raised by other parents for many different and intensely personal reasons. They are always motivated by a desire to ensure a loving and happy home for their child. Contact us today. Let us guide you through every step of your decision making process. You may contact us via email 24 hrs/7 days a week by emailing ohio@bbas.org unplanned pregnancy,teenage pregnancy, unwanted pregnancy, considering adoption, adoption, adopting, adopted, adopt, newborn placement,Ohio crisis pregnancy,Ohio pregnancy center,Ohio pregnancy help,Ohio pregnancy support,Ohio pregnancy solution,ohio pregnancy test,ohio birthright,ohio pregnancy alternative,ohio + pregnancy,